Is this just the photos?

I was looking through Auction results for 84P Jeffersons this morning.
These two jumped out at me for obvious reasons. We are taught that halo's around the devices mean that the coin has been circulated. Just wondering if this is simply the technique used to photo through a slab, or is this the result of them sitting in the cello packaging?
https://coins.ha.com/itm/jefferson-...gc-pc/a/131532-23119.s?hdnJumpToLot=1&x=0&y=0

https://coins.ha.com/itm/jefferson-...s-ngc/a/131225-26739.s?hdnJumpToLot=1&x=0&y=0

 

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Halos around the devices could have a number of different causes, there is no single reason. These coins are clearly not circulated, so we can rule that one out immediately.

The PCGS one is almost certainly a bit of toning from how it was stored (this appears to be a bit of bluish haziness from cello, especially around his face, as you suspect).

The NGC one is trickier. I cannot say for sure, but this one may be showing some effects of a polished die. The darker areas may be slightly prooflike. The photo technique doesn't really show that, so you'd have to see it in hand. I'll be honest, I'm not sure on this one, just speculating.

 

Protected from what? What are the lighter shaded areas protected from that otherwise would cause toning on an uncirculated coin? What are the lighter shaded areas protected from that the darker shaded areas aren't?

 

Both look circulated based on the images so I would guess it's the photo technique/ lighting playing tricks.

edit to add - these images almost look like scans...

 

I am Thinking that it could be a combo of both. Cellophane and photo technique. I do not feel that there is much toning at all on the coin I could be wrong.

 

The devices and lettering of the coin provide a measure of protection to the areas that are adjacent to them. The toning on this coin was probably caused by contact with Hydrogen Sulfide gas in the atmosphere, and the areas that are more exposed to the air flow, like the fields and high points of the devices are toned more whereas the recesses of the devices and the lettering are toned less.

 

So, protected from air flow essentially. Hmmm.

 

Based on the images, both appear to have toned in the fields. I see that quite often, and I see no evidence otherwise here. But what do I know? I’m just an “internet expert” who does not know anything and is always wrong.

 

This is the image I have for this year. I looked closely and I can see a slight haloing around some letters.

The fields are quite polished, and the entire surface is proof-like.



In a full-detail crop I can see some more striations under the devices. That area seems to have a roughness like die erosion even though the fields don’t. In the photo they look like polish lines through the date. They run under the devices, as expected, but don’t extend to the fields.



I can’t offer an analysis for this but I will observe that this is a very shiny coin and it’s hard to photograph. If Heritage takes scans then we are seeing a much different type of lighting.

 

Thanks for posting the image URLs, and we are all just "internet experts." I don't recall anyone saying you are always wrong, in fact, you are very knowledgeable. We just think you beat the "criticizing the TPG" horse to death.

 

That would support Jason's guess that the coin may be prooflike as an EDS coin. I have several modern Jefferson's with prooflike surfaces and they are an absolute PITA to photograph.

As for Heritage, they haven't used scans in over a decade, but their photography set up is a cookie cutter set-up designed to photograph thousands of coins per day. They don't try to get the best shot, they just stick the slab in, take the photo, flip it over, take the photo, and move along to the next coin. The only time a coins gets extra attention is when it is given the oversized photos based on the rarity of the coin or the request of the consignor. When I consigned many of my toned Morgan Dollars, I requested these photos to highlight the toning, and the Heritage rep referred to them as "beauty shots." IIRC, Heritage even outsourced some of these beauty shots from time to time. I distinctly remember seeing some of Todd Pollock's photos in Heritage auctions. Wonder if @blu62vette could shed anymore light on Heritage's photography process.

 

Exactly right, coincidentally, this is the same explanation for elevation chromatics where the recesses of the devices of a coin will have a different color than the surrounding devices. The most common example of elevation chromatics is the LIBERTY on a Morgan Dollar having different color. For example:



Notice how the LIB is yellow while the higher relief surrounding it has progressed to magenta toning. This coin also shows "pull away" toning around the stars, letters, and numbers which is also a halo in some respects, though I suspect that the cause of pull away toning is different than air flow restriction.

 

Is yours toned at all or just mirrored surfaces?

 

There is no hint of toning. Here it is in the album and it's just a bit dark, but otherwise without any coloration. For comparison, you can see the proof to its left has picked up some yellowing, but not this one.

 

Work hardening is the reason for pull away toning that I alluded to in my post. I didn't bring it up because most people without a degree in metallurgy don't know what it is.

 

Work hardening I understand. Protected from air flow leaves me scratching my head still, but so be it.

 

Go outside on a breezy day. One side of your house will be windy, go around the corner and the house blocks the wind.

Now imagine you are a molecule of sulfur on the surface of the coin - the devices are like your house, raised from the field. As air flows across the coin, it will flow around the raised parts.

 

I know that everyone went off at a tangent of toning and how protected areas tone differently. But I really don't think that these coins show toning at all. I think that they are as close to original as possible. I am imagining that the areas seen as having more luster than the open fields are simply because the adjacent raised devices are casting a reflection on the surfaces showing the luster. If they are as smooth and PL as @RonSanderson has shown them to be. The whole coin should be covered in this very fine minute luster and therefore a virtual pain in the back side to photo. Especially if done as @Lehigh96 says they do.